My Dog Magazine

Cat v Rottweiler – Funny or Dangerous?

This little video has raised a few smiles from various video sites I’ve seen it appear on. But, desperately trying not to sound like a boring old killjoy, I can’t be alone in expressing some concern about the scenario shown?

1. The dog is tied up. A dog with an inability to flee a stressful scenario can become quite agitated and display a much higher level of defensive aggression (maybe the kitten would escape, but the next person/child to encounter the dog could be walking in to an accident waiting to happen).

2. By permitting one animal to ‘tease’ another, this can cause some socialisation issues down the line. It may be humorous to watch but for many dogs, it can simply reinforce a defensive response to other animals.

On the one hand, what this little clip does show is that Rottweilers are not big old meanies, they are one of the most tolerant breeds on the planet. Also, that cats are pretty fearless creatures. And again, desperately not wishing to sound like a killjoy, but little scenarios like this can often be the catalyst to much bigger problems with more serious consequences.